15.75" Diplodocus Caudal (Tail) Vertebra - Dana Quarry

This is large caudal (tail) vertebra of a large sauropod dinosaur. It's 11" long, 15.75" high and weighs 11 lbs. It was collected from the famous Dana Quarry in Wyoming. It was found in isolation, so it could technically have come from one of about a half dozen sauropods described from the Morrison Formation, but it's almost certainly Diplodocus because that is what has primarily been found at the quarry. As with most dinosaur bones it has been repaired, and has exterior restoration where the surface had been weathered. It also has some geological distortion that has warped its shape.

Diplodocus was a massive sauropod dinosaur a long tail and neck and is though to have been able to grow to about 110 feet long. There is a lot of speculation that it's tail could have served a defensive purpose, being wielded like a whip. The vertebrae towards the end of the tail have a much more robust process with a distinctive backward hook. These would have added additional weight and strength to the tail and may have helped to create a serrated edged along the tail, enhancing the flesh cutting ability of the tail during its use

The Dana Quarry which lies at the western edge of the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming has proven to be an exceptionally productive quarry over 17 years of excavations. The Dana Quarry site was a natural trap, where herbivorous species, mostly sauropods, perished together in a shrinking water hole, possibly during a drought. It has produced over a dozen complete skeletons, most of which are on display at major museums around the world. The skeletons are some of the best ever discovered for their species and are exquisitely preserved.